Lucas X. França, Ph.D.

Experience

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  Triângulo Engineering

  Jan 2007 - Apr 2007

  Office Assistant

  Responsibilities Included: • Map layout of agricultural fields using AutoCAD® Software. • Construction of architectural forms of rural and urban buildings using AutoCAD® platform.

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  Universidade Federal de Uberlândia

  Dec 2007 - Oct 2008

  LAMAS – Laboratory of Soil and Water Management

  Responsibilities Included:• Physical soil analysis (granulometric analysis).• Soil organic matter analysis.• Soil moisture and water capacity analysis. • Compaction tests.

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  Terra Nova Seeds

  May 2008 - Oct 2008

  Field Assistant

  Responsibilities Included:• Product and market development of Terra Nova seed using herbicide and insecticide technology platforms in Minas Gerais – Brazil. • Equipment calibration and maintenance.• Pest, weed, and disease scouting in soybean, corn, pinto beans, and potatoes.

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  Planten - Topography and Agricultural Engineering

  Oct 2010 - Feb 2011

  Field Assistant

  Responsibilities Included:• Field surveying and mapping using RTK technology. • Data entry and analysis using AutoCAD® and TrackMaker® platforms.• Levee layout and construction in agricultural areas.

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  Dow AgroSciences

  Aug 2011 - Feb 2012

  Field Biologist Assistant

  Responsibilities Included:• Execution of weed control experiments in corn, soybean, and sugarcane. • Field experiment layout. • Mixing of chemicals.• Equipment calibration.• Chemical application.• Data collection.• Visual evaluation of product efficacy trials.

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  Dow AgroSciences

  Apr 2012 - Sept 2012

  Field Biologist Assistant

  Responsibilities Included:• Farm operations involved in corn and soybean field experiments. • Field experiment layout. • Mixing of chemicals.• Equipment calibration.• Chemical application.• Data collection.• Soil sampling.

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  Southern Illinois University

  Jan 2014 - Aug 2015

  Responsibilities Included:• Experimental design and layout. • Establishment and conduction of field experiments in corn, soybean, wheat, and cover crops.• Weed, insect and disease scouting.• Conduction of pesticide and adjuvant efficacy experiments in field and greenhouse settings. • Fertilizer and chemical application.• Data collection and analysis. • Participation in national and international scientific conferences. Responsibilities Included:• Lecture weed identification, herbicide symptomology, and sprayer calibration as part of laboratory section of weeds and their control (PSAS 468) course. • Responsible for growing and spraying weeds for weed ID and herbicide symptomology exams. • Assist students with weed collection, homework, and laboratory reports.

  • Graduate Research Assistant

    Jan 2013 - Aug 2015

  • Teaching Assistant

    Jan 2014 - May 2014
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  Mississippi State University

  Aug 2015 - May 2019

  Graduate Research Assistant

  Responsibilities Included:• Execution and conduction of experiments in cotton.• Pesticide research and development in cotton and non-crop systems in field and greenhouse settings.• Conduction of variety, fertility, and irrigation trials. • Weed, insect, and disease scouting.• Fertilizer and chemical application using self-propelled, tractor mounted, and CO2-pressurized backpack sprayers. • Practical experience operating variable rate fertilizer application equipment, Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) sprayers, and RTK assisted steering systems. • Pesticide droplet size spectra characterization in low-speed wind tunnel.• Greenhouse and laboratory germination tests. • Testing of weed control management programs in herbicide resistant populations. • Data collection and analysis. • Participation in national and international scientific conferences. Show less

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  Syngenta

  Dec 2019 - now

  • Application Technology Team Leader

    Nov 2021 - now

  • Application Technology Manager

    Dec 2019 - Nov 2021